---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001227654-23-000111"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "CMP"
cik: "0001227654"
company_name: "COMPASS MINERALS INTERNATIONAL INC"
filed_at: "2023-05-09T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-15T08:18:44.486765+00:00"
event_type: "m_and_a"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.7
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Compass Minerals buys remaining 55% of Fortress for $26M cash + up to $28M milestones + earn-outs

## Summary
- Paid ~$26M cash for the 55% interest it did not already own; total ownership now 100%.
- Up to $28M in milestone payments (cash or stock) plus earn-out of $0.30/gal for 10 years contingent on EBITDA thresholds.
- Fortress recently secured a USFS contract to supply up to five mobile air tanker bases for the 2023 fire season.
- Fortress holds patented MgCl2-based retardants on USFS Qualified Product List; CEO Robert Burnham remains.
- Compass previously owned 45% since Jan 2022; deal closed on May 5, 2023.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001227654-23-000111
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: CMP
- cik: 0001227654
- company_name: COMPASS MINERALS INTERNATIONAL INC
- filed_at: 2023-05-09T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: m_and_a
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.7
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 1.01, 2.03, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1227654/000122765423000111/0001227654-23-000111-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1227654/000122765423000111/cmp-20230505.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001227654-23-000111
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001227654-23-000111.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001227654-23-000111.txt

## Key facts
- Material Agreements
  COMPASS MINERALS INTERNATIONAL INC entered into Membership Interest Purchase Agreement with Fortress North America, LLC, FRS Group LLC, and certain sellers valued at approximately $26 million (effective 2023-05-05).
  - Action: entry
  - Agreement: asset purchase
  - Counterparty: Fortress North America, LLC, FRS Group LLC, and certain sellers
  - Value: approximately $26 million
  - Effective: 2023-05-05
  source text: On May 5, 2023, Compass Minerals International, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Fortress North America, LLC (“FNA”), FRS Group LLC (“FRS”, and together with FNA, “Fortress”) and those persons set forth on Exhibit A and Exhibit B attached thereto (collectively, the “Sellers”), pursuant to which the Company purchased the remaining membership interests of FNA and FRS not previously owned by the Company, which represented approximately 55% of the ownership of Fortress (the “Transaction”).
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1227654/000122765423000111/0001227654-23-000111-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.